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ALBERT BICHOT BETWEEN TERROIR AND “MERROIR”
Two barrels of Bourgogne Côte d’Or Chardonnay “Secret de Famille”, vintage 2024, set sail on board the cargo ship Grain de Sail II. One of the first wine houses to take the plunge, Albert Bichot ventures into a unique sensory expedition, with mineral and saline notes.
Saint-Malo, Saturday, January 18, 2025 - Firmly moored to the deck, the two 228-liter barrels will cross the Atlantic Ocean to the rhythm of currents and sea variations. With a first stopover in New York, followed by a second in Pointe-à-Pitre, the yacht will sail the Atlantic Ocean for two months before returning to Saint-Malo in early March.
For Albert Bichot, the aim of this experiment is to study variations in the evolution of white wines.
About Maison Albert Bichot: Albert Bichot owns 107 hectares of vines spread over 6 exceptional Domaines, 4 of which are certified organic, in Bourgogne’s most prestigious appellations. Backed by its expertise as a winemaker, Albert Bichot also selects and buys grapes and musts from loyal partners, and vinifies them with the same care at its own Domaines. It's a philosophy that guarantees the production of great wines that reflect their terroir of origin and convey the emotion that has made the House one of the greatest names in Bourgogne.
Albert Bichot & Grain de Sail, Burgundy (re)sets sail!
The project was born in March 2024, when Albert Bichot, concerned about its environmental footprint, entrusted the cargo ship Grain de Sail II with the transport of a pallet of wines to be delivered to New York. This voyage, 99% of which was made under sail, enabled eco-responsible transport, reducing CO2 emissions by 95% compared with conventional freight. Mainly wind-powered, and equipped with hydro-generators, wind turbines and solar panels, the Grain de Sail II cargo ship offers a sustainable transport alternative.
Wines matured at sea: an astonishing sensory tasting experience!
This year, Albert Bichot would like to take the transatlantic voyage a step further and study the impact of the sea on the aging of wines, which is a priori accelerated by their exposure to the elements.
Installed on deck, the barrels will be directly exposed to temperature variations, humidity and salty air, as well as to more sudden movements and agitation than in the cellar, allowing for more intense natural stirring of the wine and micro-oxygenation.
To study these phenomena in detail, Albert Bichot called on the services of Onafis. This Nantes-based “Wine Tech” develops connected systems for wine maturation. A probe equipped with more than 7 sensors will evaluate the evolution of the barrels and external conditions in real time. In addition to measuring temperature, dissolved gases, volatile gases and humidity, the probe will enable Matthieu Mangenot, the company's Technical Director, to monitor the evolution of the barrels in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
A journey full of meaning
With this experiment, Albert Bichot aims to return to the transport conditions of the 19th century.
This experiment is in line with the company’s commitment to the preservation and enhancement of living organisms, and echoes the support given to the Tara Océan Foundation, which Albéric Bichot accompanied on the Microbiomes Mission to
Antarctica.
All we have to do now is wait for the sailboat's return to discover the results of this adventure during a comparative tasting: two other barrels of the same wine have been left in the Maison's cellars in Beaune.
